The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 On that Day (of Judgment), long as fifty thousand years, the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but We see it near. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 and his spouse and his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 stripping away his skin, 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 But those who seek more than this will be transgressors; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 Those are highly honored in the Gardens. 35